Hot chocolate is a popular beverage of choice in the winter. While itís served everywhere from coffee shops to restaurants and is commonly offered at gatherings, it can be boring.

After all, we grow up drinking hot chocolate, and it never changes.

But, I found four creative recipes that allow you to enjoy the traditional drink with more flair.

Candy Cane Cocoa

This recipe is from AllRecipes.com.

4 cups of milk

Three 1-ounce squares of semi-sweet chocolate, chopped

Four crushed peppermint candy canes

Four small peppermint candy canes (not crushed)

1 cup whipped cream

In a saucepan on the stovetop, heat the milk until itís hot. Do not boil it. Whisk in the chocolate and the crushed peppermint candy canes.

Serve the cocoa with whipped cream on top and a candy cane for use as a stirring stick. Serves four.

Salted Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

This recipe is from OneOrdinaryDay.wordpress.com.

ľ cup of sugar

ľ cup of cocoa

ľ cup of water

3 cups of milk

3-4 tablespoons of creamy peanut butter

Ĺ cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips

Optional: sea salt and/or marshmallows

Put the sugar and cocoa in a saucepan on the stovetop. Whisk in the water until the mixture is smooth. Then, put the heat on medium to high and whisk in the milk. Keep heating the mixture until it steams.

Remove the pan from the heat and add the peanut butter and chocolate chips. Let the hot chocolate sit for a few seconds and then whisk until it is frothy. You can finish it off with sea salt or marshmallows.

Pumpkin Spice White Hot Chocolate

This recipe is from TaterTotsandJello.com.

1 cup of heavy cream

2 cups of milk

1 cup of white chocolate chips

1/2 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon of pumpkin spice

Optional: whipped cream and extra pumpkin spice

Heat the cream and milk in a saucepan with medium heat on the stovetop. Stir occasionally until the mixture is hot. Do not boil.

Pour heated cream and milk over the white chocolate chips in a medium sized bowl. Stir until the chips are melted. Add the vanilla extract and pumpkin spice. Top it off with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin spice, if you choose. Serves two.

Red Velvet Hot Chocolate with Cream Cheese Whipped Cream

Page 2 of 2 - This recipe is from une-deuxsenses.blogspot.com.

4 cups of whole milk

One dash of water

3/4 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/4 cup of sugar

1 teaspoon of red food coloring

1 cup of heavy whipping cream

2-4 tablespoons of whipped cream cheese, room temp.

Combine the heavy cream and sugar in a medium-sized bowl. Whisk this mixture. If you have a stand mixer, whisk for 2-3 minutes on medium speed.

Add the cream cheese and whisk again for about 2 minutes. In a saucepan, heat the milk over medium heat. Add a splash of water and the chocolate chips, constantly stirring. When the mixture is almost melted, stir in the red food coloring.

When the chocolate chips are melted, pour the hot chocolate into mugs and top the drinks off with whipped cream. Serves four.